What do you do when a pair of sneakers have worn through? Like most people, you probably throw them away and never again spare them a second thought. Shoes tossed into the trash, however, are often transported then dumped into landfills where they sit and slowly decompose along with countless other items that probably should have been repaired, rather than discarded. Because humans have proven themselves to be incredibly wasteful, the shoe company Reebok is now developing a plant-based shoe which is primarily composed of corn and cotton.
The American apparel company recently announced the new shoes which have been specifically designed for environmentally-conscious individuals. Vice President of the shoe company’s Future Team, Bill McInnis, wrote that “Reebok is trying to clean up the entire life cycle of shoe making: from what shoes are made of to where they end up.”
Every part of the stylish new kicks will compostable and plant-based. The top of the shoe is made from organic cotton and the sole from corn. Even the glue holding the shoes is concocted from biologically friendly materials. According to the statement,
“The Cotton + Corn initiative will be the first project in the world to create a plant-based athletic shoe.”
“Typical shoes are made from oil-based plastics that can sit around in landfills for hundreds of years when you’re done with them,” McInnis wrote. “We’re focusing on creating shoes made from things that grow, made from things that bio-compost, made from things that can be replenished.”
When one has worn through the shoes, which hopefully takes a while, they can be tossed into a compost heap guilt-free. The kicks will then biodegrade, fertilizing the soil which will nourish future generations.
“Traditionally the end of a shoe’s life is when you throw them in the back of the closet and eventually throw them away for good,” McInnis added. “What most people don’t think about is that most shoes end up in landfills when people are done with them.”
The Future Team is excited about the corn and cotton-based shoes because they are designed to be both stylish and biodegradable. Unlike the trainers released by Adidas which are made from recycled ocean plastic, these shoes are made from plant-based materials one can feel good about discarding when they’ve reached their lifespan.
Would you wear a pair of these shoes? Comment your thoughts below and share this news!
